A lil more

Outside of work, I enjoy sharing knowledge through talks and workshops on accessibility, emotional regulation, and neuroscience. I'm also continuing my academic journey with a master's in research methodology, driven by a long-standing curiosity about human behaviour and evidence-based thinking.

Painting, poetry, theatre, and violin have been part of my life since childhood, while practices such as aikido, yoga, and meditation continue to influence how I approach attention, empathy, resilience, and learning. Together, they shape both my perspective on design and the way I engage with people and complex problems.

I am an adopted chulapa living in Madrid! 🌸 →

Portrait of Zainab Abadi

Community

Zainab giving a talk on neuroscience

Sharing knowledge through accessibility, neuroscience, and emotional wellbeing.

Facilitation

Zainab facilitating a group workshop

Designing and facilitating workshops on emotional regulation, fascia work, and Theatre of the Oppressed for mixed and neurodivergent communities.

Participatory
Arts

Zainab painting a mural

Collaborative art projects bringing together writing, painting, theatre, and performance.

Games &
Storytelling

Zainab at a live action role-playing event

Passionate about LARP, D&D, board games, and video games.

Work experience

UX/UI Designer

Oxford University Press

Publishing department of the University of Oxford and one of the world's leading academic and educational publishers.

Jan 2023 - Oct 2025

  • Improved product decisions through user, usability, and accessibility research.
  • Made products more accessible through WCAG-based evaluations and recommendations.
  • Optimised learning workflows by identifying friction points and improving user flows.
  • Strengthened product consistency through UX documentation, interface analysis, and behavioural insights.
  • Designed and evolved interfaces, prototypes, and design system components in Figma.
  • Aligned product, legal, editorial, and development teams around shared UX decisions.
  • Structured workflows and documentation for an internal GenAI platform using Copilot and LLMs.

UX Designer

Plytix

SaaS company behind a Product Information Management platform for SMBs, recognised by G2 among the best commerce software products and known for its people-first culture.

Jul 2022 - Sept 2022

  • Improved SaaS workflows by identifying usability issues and optimisation opportunities.
  • Contributed to a more consistent product through UX documentation in Zeroheight.
  • Supported product decisions through user story analysis and cross-functional collaboration.
  • Designed interface improvements focused on usability and product quality.
  • Helped prioritise user needs and align product decisions in Productboard.

Independent Projects

Freelance UX/UI Designer

Worked with clients including IPSIK, Sheedo, educational institutions, NGOs, and e-commerce businesses, designing websites, digital products, visual identities, and editorial publications.

Jan 2021 - May 2022

  • Designed websites and digital experiences for educational institutions and independent clients.
  • Created visual identities that strengthened brand consistency and recognition.
  • Designed editorial publications for NGOs and independent organisations.
  • Developed creative concepts and art direction for communication campaigns.
  • Advised clients on digital products, websites, and visual communication strategies.

A bit more

Areas of expertise

  • Product design.
  • UX research and user testing.
  • Visual design.
  • Conceptual design.
  • Design systems.
  • Developer handoff.
  • Accessibility (WCAG).
  • UX audits.
  • UX documentation.
  • Cross-functional collaboration.
  • Design strategy.

Toolkit

  • Figma.
  • Adobe Creative Suite.
  • Maze.
  • Hotjar.
  • Jira.
  • Productboard.
  • AXE.
  • Bootstrap.
  • AI-assisted workflows.

Beyond design

  • Product and interior design background.
  • Born in Tangier, based in Madrid.
  • Fluent in four languages.
  • Interested in theatre and visual arts.
  • Curious about human behaviour and cross-cultural perspectives.
  • Lifelong learner.

Empathy · Clarity · Impact